Noise

Target 2006/07:

• At least 98% of aircraft departures ‘on track’ on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 4,000 ft.
• A minimum of 99% of aircraft departures ‘on track’ on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 3,000 ft during the day.
• At least 95% of aircraft departures ‘on track’ on each individual flight path.
• Introduce a new noise and track keeping system.

Performance against target: Some progress made

The issue

We know that aircraft noise is one of the biggest issues for our local communities. People are concerned about aircraft heights, the amount of noise planes make and the operation of night flights; and expect to know more about what we are doing about it and how we are helping to improve the situation.

Our approach

At Stansted, we work with airline and community representatives to find ways of improving track keeping performance; and are committed to working with airlines at Stansted to improve their operations on the ground, and performance in the air, in a bid to minimise the impacts of aircraft noise.

We regularly publish accurate data about aircraft noise and track keeping at Stansted, and talk to pilots, air traffic control and other industry partners such as aircraft manufacturers, about their performance and wider noise issues.

There is a rolling programme of visits and briefings to a number of local communities to listen to people’s concerns and to explain how we manage these important issues.

Our strategy is to help reduce the impacts of noise on communities around the airport, and to achieve this we work with airlines, local communities, elected representatives, NATS (the air traffic services provider), Government and aircraft manufacturers.

Our performance

Track keeping
Planes that take-off from Stansted have to stay on designated flight paths until they reach a certain height. Depending on wind direction, the runway at

Stansted operates either to the north east or south west and these runway operations are known as 05 and 23. There are three designated flight paths for departing aircraft at each end of the runway which are defined as Dover, Buzad and Clacton (see maps below).

Runway 05 (North East)

Runway 23 (South West)

Aircraft departing on Clacton and Dover flight paths must remain on them until they reach a height of 4,000 ft. Aircraft using Buzad flight paths must remain on them until they reach 3,000 ft during the day (6am to 11.30 pm) and 4,000 ft at night (11.30pm to 6am).

Every flight is monitored at Stansted. Sometimes, and for good reason, departing aircraft leave the set flight paths before the designated height is reached, for example to avoid bad weather. But when there is not a good reason, we fine the airline and the money raised is given to the Stansted Community Trust fund which is distributed to local good causes.

Our targets for departing aircraft during 2006/07 were:

At least 98% of aircraft departures ‘on track’ on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 4,000 ft.
We were only 0.8% under target and achieved 97.2%. Some aircraft leaving Stansted to the north-east, on the runway 05 Dover flight path, find the tight 180º turn required on this route particularly challenging. We continue to work with airlines who regularly fly this route to help them improve performance.

Although our target was not fully met, the performance has improved by 1.1% compared to 96.1% in 2005/06.

easyJet have worked collaboratively with us on unique track keeping trials to improve the way their aircraft fly some of our flight paths. We researched ‘waypoints’ along the south westerly (runway 23) Clacton route, that easyJet put directly into their onboard computer system. This has brought about a direct improvement to the way their Airbus 319 aircraft flies this route.

A minimum of 99 % of aircraft departures ‘on track’ on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 3,000 ft during the day.
This target related to both Buzad departure routes during the day (6am to 11.30pm). We achieved this target with a total of 99 .5% of aircraft on-track.

At least 95 % of all aircraft departures ‘on track’ on each individual flight path (six in total).
Our target was achieved on five departure routes, with three of these recording at least 99 % on-track (23 Buzad, 05 Buzad and 05 Clacton) and the other two at least 97% (23 Clacton and 23 Dover). The only flight path that did not achieve target was the 05 Dover route which was 1.3% under target, achieving 93.7% on-track. Again this was due to the challenging 180º turn. We are researching waypoints along the 05 Dover route and we will be conducting trials with an airline, similar to those carried out with easyJet on the 23 Clacton route, to plot waypoints into the onboard computer systems.

Safety tests will need to be approved first by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) before we can formalise arrangements to put permanent waypoints into the onboard computer systems of all airlines operating at Stansted.

Introduce a new noise and track keeping system. This was not delivered during the financial year due to software and supplier issues. We did however complete tests of the system, produce manuals and conduct training sessions for staff. The new system was launched in May 2007 (see ‘Our plans’, for further details).

Full information can be found on our dedicated website: www.stanstedairport.com/noise

Noise contours
Noise levels are measured in decibels (dBA). Noise contours are calculated at all UK airports by taking average noise level readings for the 16 hour period 7am to 11pm, during June to September, which is considered to be the busiest period of the year. Fewer flights operate at night and therefore night flights are not included in the calculations, as this would reduce the average level. The measurement obtained is known as LAeq and is the UK index for exposure to aircraft noise.

Contours at Stansted have reduced in recent years despite an increase in the number of aircraft using the runway. At Stansted we have predominantly short-haul airlines operating and our two main carriers, Ryanair and easyJet, invest heavily in the most modern and efficient aircraft fleets and this has a major impact on reducing noise contours at the airport.

The Government currently considers 57 dBA LAeq as the onset of significant community annoyance. 63 dBA LAeq is equated to moderate annoyance and 69 dBA LAeq to high annoyance.

According to the latest performance data produced by the CAA for the calendar year 2005, Stansted’s noise contours became narrower and shorter compared to 2004 (see maps below). Comparing 2004 to 2005, Stansted’s 57 dBA km² area contour reduced by 8%; the 63 dBA km² area contour saw a decrease of 12%; and the 69 dBA km² area contour reduced by 14%; and the population within the 57dBA Leq area decreased by 31% from 2,900 in 2004 to 2,000 during 2005.

Stansted noise contours 2004
Stansted actual 57, 63 and 69 Leq contours - 2004 dotted (80% SW - 20% NE) - 2005 solid (60% SW - 40% NE) Source: Dft report 'Noise Exposure Contours for Stansted Airport 2005'

Stansted noise contours 2005
Stansted actual 2005 average mode (60% SW - 40% NE) terrain adjusted 16 hr Leq on population map Source: Dft report 'Noise Exposure Contours for Stansted Airport 2005'

Continuous Descent Approach
Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) is a procedure used by aircraft coming in to land. CDA is not only smoother than the traditional stepped approach, but more importantly, it reduces the need for engine thrust which reduces emissions, lowers engine noise levels and reduces fuel consumption.

Due to current airspace constraints at Stansted, it is only possible for airlines to use CDA on approach to runway 23. We monitor the performance of CDA approaches to runway 23 against an airport KPI (Key Performance Indicator) compliance of 80%.

During 2006/07 Stansted improved performance achieving 85% compared to 83% in 2005/06. Our Flight Analysis team has also been working closely with two of our cargo carriers, FedEx and UPS, on CDA and both these US carriers have improved their performance by over 10% in the past year. Airlines such as easyJet and Thomsonfly regularly achieve 100% CDA compliance to runway 23. We will continue to work with NATS to try and find ways of introducing CDA’s to runway 05.

Our appreciation is recorded to all members of the Noise and Track Keeping Working Group (NTKWG) for their work in monitoring our management of noise and track keeping issues. Members of NTKWG are drawn from local community representatives who sit on STACC (Stansted Airport Consultative Committee),
NATS (the air traffic services provider) and DfT (Department for Transport).

During 2006/07 an Arrivals Code of Practice Version 2 was published with input from BAA, airlines, NATS, CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and DfT. Copies were distributed to all airlines operating at Stansted and these reports are available to view at www.dft.gov.uk.

Noise Communications
Stansted’s Noise Communications team deals with enquiries and complaints related to aircraft noise and track keeping performance.

During 2006/07, 13,95 6 complaints were received from 2,294 people; compared to 19,435 complaints in 2005/06 from 2,312 people.

To put the volume of regular callers into perspective, during 2006/07 9,195 of complaints were from 14 people, accounting for nearly 66% of all complaints received. In 2005/06 regular callers accounted for 78% of total complaints. One person contacted us less during 2006/07 which contributed significantly to the 28% reduction in total complaints.

In 2006/07, we published new detailed departure and arrival maps showing the route and heights of planes taking off and landing at Stansted Airport. These form part of our Property Pack and last year over 2,000 copies were sent to residents, property buyers and outlets including estate agents, solicitors, banks, building societies and libraries. The pack is also available online at: www.stanstedairport.com/noise.

Noise briefings were held in Ware and Sudbury to talk to local people about questions and concerns they have with regard to aircraft operating at Stansted. These events were attended by over 400 people. Reports were produced on mobile noise monitors which were placed in Sudbury, Thorley, Bush End, Epping Upland
and Ware. An individual report was written for each and sent to the respective Council and constituency MP. These are available to view on our dedicated noise website: www.stanstedairport.com/noise.

Our plans

We have just launched our new noise website which will increase the range of information available to the public on noise issues relating to Stansted Airport.

The site has several key features, including an online self service enquiry system, WebTrak, which tracks aircraft flight paths by date, time, height and aircraft type.

Complaints and enquiries can now also be logged online through a new, easy to use, five-step process. Visit www.stanstedairport.com/noise

We also intend to place mobile noise monitors in locations where we have previously placed them, in order to obtain some comparative data.

The performance standards we have set ourselves for 2007 are:

• At least 98% of aircraft departures on track on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 4,000 ft;
• A minimum of 99% of aircraft departures on track on the flight paths where they cannot leave below 3,000 ft; and
• At least 95% of aircraft departures on track on individual flight paths.

Target 2007
Prepare a draft noise action plan for Stansted and develop a plan for consultation with key stakeholders by 31 December 2007. This will enable us to agree an action plan with key stakeholders by 30 April 2008.

www.stanstedairport.com/noise

Data summary

Noise

# Data produced by CAA and published in annual report.

Track keeping